NFL Blames Lions Not Refs

[The Quest for Six]

That’s not how that works !
The report is the report

yes, that's how it works..refs error

 

[DripTooHard]

The lions had the correct guy eligible(68), the refs just reported to the defense the wrong number eligible(70)

The whole stadium heard it, including the Lions. They should have corrected the ref to 68. In that case 68 would have been covered by a Cowboy.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

And I’m not a “woe is me, everything is different for the Cowboys” kind of guy, but if the teams were switched I guarantee you the sports world be laughing at the Cowboys for trying such a convuluted scheme that backfired.

Exactly like Zeke lining up at center.

Yep we for sure would be hearing same ol' Cowboys...even though technically its the same ol Lions because they beat themselves more than anyone and have been.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

The whole stadium heard it, including the Lions. They should have corrected the ref to 68. In that case 68 would have been covered by a Cowboy.

So why would they do that lol? If they are trying to deceive the Cowboys why would they correct a mistake so now the Cowboys can cover 68 lol? It makes no sense lol.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

yes, that's how it works..refs error

Once the refs make a call it’s in the books. You can’t just assume he should’ve said 68. He said 70

 

[CowboyStar88]

There's a saying that goes "don't pay attention to what they say, pay attention to what they do."

The NFL is apparently downgrading this officiating crew, making them ineligible for post-season assignments. It doesn't matter if the NFL, through background channels, blames the Lions for the outcome. By downgrading the crew, and having this information come out the day after the game, their actions indicate that they blame the officiating crew.

My opinion? The Lions did try to be slick by having three linemen go to the referee at the same time, but they did have Decker report. Allen screwed it up, announced Skipper as reporting as eligible, and the Lions ran the play as they had designed it. While the Lions were privy to hearing the announcement over the PA as Skipper being eligible, they ran the play as they intended to anyway. This was all triggered by Allen messing up the eligible receiver.

This was all triggered by sending 3 lineman to the ref in an attempt to create confusion. 70 had reported all game as eligible. Allen (right or wrong) probably saw what happened and went with 70 as the eligible player. If you create confusion you own the mistake.

 

[Jarv]

Their argument is classic CYA-ing. If indeed the refs announced the wrong number then why didn't Dan Campbell run over to the ref and make them fix it when he heard the announcement like the rest of us. Why didn't one of the Lions coaches buzz down and say "Hey they didn't announce #68 that means he's not eligible! We need to tell the refs they got it wrong. " I'll tellya why.. Because the deception was intentional. They were hoping that the refs would fail to identify #68 so the Cowboys would not cover him. They didn't understand the damn rule. Or thought they'd found a loophole of some sort. They were wrong.

This ^^^^^^^

 

[The Quest for Six]

The whole stadium heard it, including the Lions. They should have corrected the ref to 68. In that case 68 would have been covered by a Cowboy.

So it's the lions fault the ref was wrong, 68 reported, that's all they had to do when the clock was running and trying to get lined up for a two point conversion, two cowboys around 68 and stil didnt' prevent it...

 

[DripTooHard]

So why would they do that lol? If they are trying to deceive the Cowboys why would they correct a mistake so now the Cowboys can cover 68 lol? It makes no sense lol.

Because that is the rule and that is the reason why the play was flagged. If 68 is eligible you have to declare it to the defense so they can cover.

 

[HungryLion]

No, he’s being coy. He said he went through it line by line but didn’t say who he went over it with.

Yep. And in post game
Interviews a reporter asks decker: “did you report”

Decker: “I did exactly what the coaches told me to do”

 

[jazzcat22]

Because the plan is to catch the Cowboys off guard. If they step in and say "OH wait guys you said the wrong number" then the Cowboys would just defend the lineman and the play fails.

Refs for sure are to blame here. They screwed up. Lions "confused" them but it's not the Lions job to make sure the ref isn't confused. They have every right to be pissed but it's on them.

No they did not screw up. Detroit did.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

You title is misleading and should say, “according to Mike Florio”…..
because the NFL DID blame the refs and demoted them from doing any Playoff games

They have not been demoted yet. Thats speculation at this point.

 

[Brax]

No, he’s being coy. He said he went through it line by line but didn’t say who he went over it with.

I don’t think this is cot (sorry about the large type couldn’t get to normal on my phones )

A furious Dan Campbell says he explained 'everything' about the Taylor Decker trick play to officials BEFORE Lions - Cowboys​

 

[jazzcat22]

I can't believe some Dallas fans want to defend the Lions on this When it is very clear, and obvious Detroit tried to cheat and it failed.

 

[The Quest for Six]

Once the refs make a call it’s in the books. You can’t just assume he should’ve said 68. He said 70

I guess 68 should have taken the refs mic and announced he's eligible himself then, right since the ref was incompetent.

 

[DripTooHard]

So it's the lions fault the ref was wrong, 68 reported, that's all they had to do when the clock was running and trying to get lined up for a two point conversion, two cowboys around 68 and stil didnt' prevent it...

They ran to 68 late because he wasn’t declared to the defense. Yes, the Lions have to make sure the ref got it right over the PA. That is why they announce it over the mic. Everyone including the defense has a right to know who is eligible so they can cover. The Lions tried to deceive and got caught.

 

[CowboyStar88]

Yep. And in post game
Interviews a reporter asks decker: “did you report”

Decker: “I did exactly what the coaches told me to do”

There is no denial there by decker. I’d say with DC saying you can’t have 2 players reporting as eligible and Decker not denying it I’d say they were both probably shouting eligible and Allen went with the guy who had been reporting all game.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Because that is the rule and that is the reason why the play was flagged. If 68 is eligible you have to declare it to the defense so they can cover.

That's not the rule lol. The rule is you have to report to the official. The official then reports that number to the defense. It doesn't say anything about what if the official reports the wrong number.

 

[Staubacher]

They could’ve just ran an actual play and scored. That was an option too

I really thought if they did they'd score, seeing how they just drove down the field with no resistance

 

[jazzcat22]

If the teams were reversed you be saying the refs screwed Dallas again and the NFL is out to get Dallas. You know you would. You are so bent with hate and envy because Belichick won so much. Got news for you, all teams bend the rules for an advantage it’s always been that way.

Dallas would not try to pull something like that. And if they did, they would get it correct.